U.S. Olympian Gwen Berry is reacting to the White House’s remarks regarding her turning her back on the U.S. flag during the national anthem at the Olympic trials.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki was asked this week by Fox News’s Peter Doocey, “Does President [Joe] Biden think that is appropriate behavior for someone who hopes to represent Team USA?”
“I haven’t spoken to the President specifically about this, but I know he is incredibly proud to be an American and has great respect for the anthem and all that it represents, especially for our men and women serving in uniform all around the world,” Psaki said.
She continued, “He would also say, of course, that part of that pride in our country means recognizing there are moments where we are, as a country, haven’t lived up to our highest ideals, and it means respecting the right of people granted to them in the Constitution to peacefully protest.”
Asked for her reaction to Psaki’s comments, Berry told CNN’s Don Lemon on Thursday, “I think that was spot on. They said it, I respect it.”
Watch the video below:
U.S hammer thrower and Olympian Gwen Berry is responding to criticism over turning away from the flag while on the podium at the Olympic trials.
— CNN Tonight (@CNNTonight) July 2, 2021
Berry tells @donlemon she was exercising her constitutional right. Watch: pic.twitter.com/yFISNt3zjj
Berry received criticism from Republicans for her move last weekend, including from Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), who called for her to “be removed from the Olympic team.”
“I don’t think it’s too much, when athletes are competing, to wear the stars and stripes — to compete under the stars and stripes in the Olympics — for them to simply honor that flag and our anthem on the medal stand,” Cotton said on Fox News on Monday.
He added, “If Miss Berry is so embarrassed by America, then there is no reason she needs to compete for our country. She should be removed from the Olympic team.”
Berry previously told The Associated Press about the timing of the national anthem, “I feel like it was a set-up, and they did it on purpose. I was pissed, to be honest.”
After noting she respects the Constitution, the U.S. olympian told Lemon, “I will not stand for any type of symbol or song that does not stand for all people in America.”
She added, “It’s the first verse. It’s the third verse. It’s all of these words. Freedom, justice. It mentions slaves. These are things that do not hold true for all Americans. And that’s just it. It’s not true for all Americans.”
Asked by Lemon if she also means the U.S. flag, Berry said, “I mean, we can say that.”